It's just another holiday!

What does I-Day mean to you? While the nation gets set to celebrate 60 years of Independence on August 15, 2007, Bati Tiwari checks out what the citizens of India feel about India's proudest day.

art-and-cultureUpdated: Aug 10, 2007 22:57 IST

Bati Tiwari

Hindustan Times

What does I-Day mean to you? While the nation gets set to celebrate 60 years of Independence on August 15, 2007, let's check out what the citizens of India feel about India's proudest day.

Says Sanjeev Mehra, a bank employee, "I-Day for me is one chhutti that I get in the year for sure. Thank God it's not a Sunday this time. I am planning to relax and spend time with my family this I-Day."

"I-Day will give me time to chill out after a long time. My husband also has a holiday on August 15. So both of us will spend time together," says Seema Bansal, an engineer.

Schoolkids Neha, Deepti and Jatin too are excited over the prospect of getting a holiday. They, however, say they will have to go to the school in the morning for the flag-hoisting ceremony. <b1>

Though some feel excited, others say they wanted I-Day to be a Monday. They feel it would have given them more time to have fun.

Mona Singh, a public servant says, "If Independence Day would have been a Monday we would have got three days of holidays and my family could have visited some place. Anyways, I would still relish this holiday." On being asked how she was planning to spend it, she says, "I intend to watch a couple of movies at home with my family."

The sad part is that not only do some see I-Day as just another holiday, they also seem to have a very casual attitude towards the great sacrifice our freedom fighters made for the country's Independence.

Says Meeta Chawla, a housewife, "I know India became Independent on August 15. Yeah, I guess the freedom fighters toiled enough for this day."

"I think the freedom fighters did a good job," adds Sanjay, a young man. For most, I-Day is a day to have fun, to hang around at malls and spend time with family. Isn't it time the Gen-X is made aware of the significance of I-Day?